Unit 82: REASON & CONSEQUENCE

Here are some ways to connect two ideas when one idea is the cause (the reason why) and the other is the result (the consequence).

1

It was difficult to follow him because he spoke very fast.
We exchanged our money because we needed foreign currency.

Two other ways of saying because are as and since. We can use all of them before the basic sentence, too:

Because he spoke fast, it was difficult to follow him.
As we needed foreign currency, we exchanged our money.

Nobody answered the door, so I left a message and went away.
We needed foreign currency, so we exchanged our money.

NOTICE: Because + REASON and so + CONSEQUENCE cannot make sentences alone. They must have a basic sentence with them.

The exchange rate was terrible. As a result, we lost money.
He spoke very fast. As a result, we couldn't follow.

Two other ways of writing as a result are consequently and therefore. We use all of them mainly in writing.

BUT WE CANNOT USE As a result for consequences of personal decision. For example, the sentences in 2 above.

He spoke so fast that nobody could understand him.
The exchange rate was so bad that we decided to stay home.

He was such a fast speaker that nobody could understand him.
It was such a bad exchange rate that we decided to stay home.